Summary:
The city of Deer Isle, Maine is home to two schools: Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School (grades K-7) and Deer Isle-Stonington High School (grades 8-12), which together serve a total of 318 students. While the schools have relatively low student-to-teacher ratios, they face significant challenges, including declining academic performance, high chronic absenteeism rates, and serving a population with substantial socioeconomic needs.
The elementary school has a homogeneous student population, with 96.55% of students identifying as white, and has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Maine elementary schools, with a 1-star rating. The school also has a high chronic absenteeism rate of 22.5% and a significant percentage (34.98%) of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. In contrast, the high school has a slightly more diverse student population, with 93.04% white, 3.48% Hispanic, and smaller percentages of other racial groups. However, the high school's state-wide ranking has declined over the years, from 48th out of 114 Maine high schools in 2018-2019 to 96th out of 123 in 2022-2023, with a 1-star rating.
Both schools in the Deer Isle-Stonington Central School District face concerning chronic absenteeism rates, with the high school at 40.0%, and a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, with the high school at 55.65%. These socioeconomic challenges may be contributing to the declining academic performance observed in both schools, and addressing these issues will likely require a comprehensive approach involving the school district, community stakeholders, and targeted interventions to support the educational needs of all students in Deer Isle.
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